Lonnie Jean Stober

Lonnie grew up in Ames and graduated from Ames High School in 1965. She married Richard James Stober in October later that same year, celebrating their 57th anniversary this past fall.

Early in married life, Lonnie helped Richard build Stober Construction Company into a successful home-building business in Ames. After moving to Texas in 1981, she focused on her favorite roles as Wife, Mother, Daughter, and Nana. She was also passionate about supporting victims of crime and spent many years volunteering with the statewide organization People Against Violent Crime, assisting with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Travis County. Lonnie’s volunteer work with victims led to the opportunity to serve as Assistant Campaign Manager for former State Representative and fellow victim rights advocate, Terry Keel.

Lonnie was a homebody with a contagious laugh, a well-known sweet tooth, and an energy that filled the room.

But most of all, she had an immeasurable love for her friends and family. Lonnie felt blessed to have her parents in Texas with her in their retirement and loved supporting them in their later years. During those years it was also common to find Lonnie cheering loudly for her daughters and their friends at various softball fields, and track and cross-country courses throughout Central Texas. Her daughters (and Son-in-laws) also feel eternally grateful for Lonnie’s passion for college football which began with her early love of attending ISU football games and tailgating, passing this passion down to the next generation. On the rare occasion Lonnie traveled, she could be found back in Ames with family and old friends, Florida with Richard, Bi-annual Stober Family Reunions, Casinos with her girlfriends, or anywhere her precious grandchildren could be found. Lonnie was loved more than she could have ever imagined in life and will be dearly missed.

Lonnie is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Michelle Jean Stober, and parents Melvin (Mak) and Yvonne (Bonnie) Makelbust.

Lonnie is survived by her husband Richard James Stober of Buda, TX, daughter Marci Jo Lombardo and son-in-law Michael Lombardo of Highland Village, TX; Mindi Stober Daniels and son-in-law Gavin Daniels of Alpharetta, GA.; her five grandchildren, Michael Lombardo Jr., Caroline Daniels, Vince Lombardo, Payton Daniels, and Lauren Daniels; sister Joanne Cable of Austin, TX, brother Mike Makelbust of Ames, IA and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, all of whom she loved to spoil rotten regardless of their parent’s wishes.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 10:30 AM. The celebration will be held at Dignity Memorial Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Dr., Austin, TX 78749.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of choice.